Apple A10 Fusion vs Apple A9

Comparative analysis of Apple A10 Fusion and Apple A9 processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Graphics. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark.

Apple A10 Fusion

Apple A9

Differences

Reasons to consider the Apple A10 Fusion

CPU is newer: launch date 0 year(s) 11 month(s) later
2 more cores, run more applications at once: 4 vs 2
2 more threads: 4 vs 2
Around 26% higher clock speed: 2.34 GHz vs 1.85 GHz
2x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
Around 50% higher maximum memory size: 3 GB vs 2 GB

Launch date	7 Sep 2016 vs 9 Sep 2015
Number of cores	4 vs 2
Number of threads	4 vs 2
Maximum frequency	2.34 GHz vs 1.85 GHz
L1 cache	64 KB instruction + 64 KB data (per core) vs 64 KB instruction + 64 KB data (per core)
Maximum memory size	3 GB vs 2 GB

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Apple A10 Fusion
CPU 2: Apple A9

Name	Apple A10 Fusion	Apple A9
PassMark - Single thread mark		1187
PassMark - CPU mark		2067

Compare specifications (specs)

	Apple A10 Fusion	Apple A9
Essentials
Architecture codename	Hurricane/Zephyr	Twister
Launch date	7 Sep 2016	9 Sep 2015
OS Support	iOS 10.0, iOS 15.7.5, iPadOS 16.4.1, tvOS 16.2	iOS 9.0, iOS 15.7.5, iPadOS 16.4.1, tvOS 16.2
Place in performance rating	not rated	2056
Processor Number	APL1021	APL1021
Performance
Base frequency	1.09 GHz	1.85 GHz
L1 cache	64 KB instruction + 64 KB data (per core)	64 KB instruction + 64 KB data (per core)
L2 cache	3 MB (shared)	3 MB (shared)
L3 cache	4 MB (shared)	4 MB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology	16 nm	16 nm
Maximum frequency	2.34 GHz	1.85 GHz
Number of cores	4	2
Number of threads	4	2
Transistor count	3.3 billion	2 billion
Memory
Max memory channels	1	1
Maximum memory bandwidth	25.6 GB/s	25.6 GB/s
Maximum memory size	3 GB	2 GB
Supported memory types	LPDDR4-3200	LPDDR4-3200
Graphics
Execution Units	24	24
Graphics base frequency	900 MHz	650 MHz
iGPU core count	6	6
Processor graphics	Custom PowerVR Series 7XT GT7600 Plus	Custom PowerVR Series 7XT @ 650MHz